Chai from Burma raised $1,500 to fund eye surgery.

Unfortunately, he did not return to the hospital for surgery, and our medical partner has been unable to contact him. If he does return for surgery, he will be re-eligible for Watsi funding.

Unfortunately, he did not return to the hospital for surgery, and our medical partner has been unable to contact him. If he does return for ...

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May 15, 2018

Chai is a 14-year-old boy from Burma. He lives with his family.

Chai has poor vision, and he depends on his mother to look after him. He had to drop out of school because his vision is blurry.

Our medical partner, Burma Children Medical Fund, is requesting $1,500 to fund lens replacement surgery for Chai. On May 16, doctors will perform a lens replacement, during which they will remove Chai’s natural lenses and replace them with an intraocular lens implant in each eye. After recovery, he will be able to see clearly. Now, he needs help to fund this $1,500 procedure.

“I would like to go back to school and one day become a primary school teacher,” said Chai.

Chai is a 14-year-old boy from Burma. He lives with his family.
Chai has poor vision, and he depends on his mother to look after him. He...

Chai's Timeline

Chai was scheduled to receive treatment at Mae Sot General Hospital. Medical partners often provide care to patients accepted by Watsi before those patients are fully funded, operating under the guarantee that the cost of care will be paid for by donors.

​What kinds of symptoms do patients experience before receiving treatment?

Patients may experience blurred or dim vision, shadows or blind spots in the field of vision, sensitivity to light and glare, and double vision.

​What is the impact on patients’ lives of living with these conditions?

Reduced vision can result in social isolation, depression, increased risk of falling and accidents, and ultimately a greater tendency to be disabled. Without surgery, the patient will have no choice but to live with end-stage ocular disease, often resulting in blindness or pain.

What cultural or regional factors affect the treatment of these conditions?

The healthcare system in Burma does not permit the average citizen to receive proper eye examinations. This lack of attention to ocular health is due to a variety of reasons. However, a low optometrist-to-population ratio and insufficient funds are the leading causes.

Process

Impact on patient's life

Risks and side-effects

Accessibility

Alternatives

What does the treatment process look like?

Surgery will only be performed if the pressure in the eye is stable. The time it takes to stabilize the pressure in the eye depends on the severity of damage to the eye.

What is the impact of this treatment on the patient’s life?

The patient will regain his or her vision, though it may not be perfectly clear. Fortunately, the surgery prevents a complete loss of vision.

How accessible is treatment in the area? What is the typical journey like for a patient to receive care?

Burma has 309 ophthalmologists and 150 eye nurses. Fewer than half of the ophthalmologists perform surgery, and almost two-thirds confine their practice to the cities of Yangon (with a population of about six million) and Mandalay (about three million), where many people have the financial capacity to meet high out-of-pocket healthcare expenses. Aside from these main facilities, there is roughly one ophthalmologist for every 500,000 people, and eye health screening and treatment for children and adults is neither comprehensive nor consistent.

What are the alternatives to this treatment?

There are no alternatives. If left untreated, the patient will eventually lose his or her vision completely.